Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - December 1, 1999 - Meeting with Mohammad Reza Aref for Consultation on Privatization of the Communications Sector and Hashemi's Promise to Review General Policy

Participation in the National Preachers' Seminar in Qom and a brief report on the trip.

A meeting with Mohammad Reza Aref for consultation on the scope of privatization of the communications sector and Hashemi's promise to review the general policy.

Later, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as president, auctioned off Iran's Telecommunications Company and the core of the communications sector to the Development of Mobin Trust Company, which belonged to the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), while keeping a small part under the government's control as the Telecommunications Infrastructure Company for governmental oversight. The consequences of this decision are still evident today.

We left early in the morning for Qom to open the National Preachers' Seminar. We departed at 6:30 a.m. and returned to Tehran at 12:30 p.m. The journey took three and a half hours, with two and a half hours spent in Qom.

In Qom, I visited the shrine and the graves of my mother and other scholars. I spoke with Mr. [Ali-Akbar] Masoudi [Khomeini, Custodian of the Shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh (S)], [Mr. Qorban-Ali Saadat], the governor, [Mahmoud] Mohammadi Araqi, [Head of the Islamic Propagation Organization], and [Mohammad] Jafari [Gilani, Head of the Islamic Propagation Office of Qom], before attending the seminar. Mr. Mohammadi Araqi welcomed the guests.

The family of the late [Mohammad-Taqi] Falsafi was also present, as it was the anniversary of his passing. I delivered a lengthy 75-minute speech on preaching, the content and methods of preaching, and the important issues of the day. The seminar was held in the basement of Feyziyeh School, and the students expressed enthusiastic feelings. The governor and Mr. Masoudi sought my assistance in requesting the government to pay more attention to Qom's development projects.

In the afternoon, Dr. [Mohammad Reza] Aref, Minister of Telecommunications [Post, Telegraph, and Telephone], visited. He reported that the work was progressing well and that they were not behind schedule. He sought advice on the limits of privatizing the telecommunications sector, and it was agreed that the general policy would be drafted in the Expediency Council. In the evening, I called to check on Fati's health, and it was satisfactory.

Northern Ireland's governance has been handed back to the people after a century, with Britain relinquishing its control. Interestingly, Sinn Féin's political wing is also part of the government. It is also remarkable that in a referendum in Australia on whether to become a republic or maintain the status quo with [Queen Elizabeth II], the people voted for the latter, continuing the Queen's reign over Australia. However, it is said that the type of republic proposed was not favored by the majority, rather than the concept itself.

There were widespread protests in Seattle, USA, against the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting, which led to the cancellation of the opening ceremony and clashes with the police. The protesters are concerned about losing jobs due to free trade.

The U.S. has closed its last military base in Panama, and after a century of control, the Panama Canal has been returned to the Panamanian government. The U.S. had fourteen bases there.